Combination washer/dryer laundry basket

ABSTRACT

The combination washer/dryer laundry basket is adapted to fit the drums of a clothes washer and dryer in order to hold clothes while they are being washed and dried, and for removing the clothes from the clothes dryer after drying. The combination washer/dryer laundry basket has a cylindrical, mesh body member, channels extending axially along the body member, a pair of handles, and locking tabs. The body member is dimensioned to fit snugly within the drums of the clothes washer and dryer, and each of the channels is dimensioned and configured to closely receive a flange from the drum of the washer and dryer. Each handle extends inwardly from the rim of the body member opposite one of the locking tabs that removably secures the basket in the drums.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to laundry devices, and more specifically to a combination laundry basket for the drums of a clothes washer and a clothes dryer to hold clothes so that the basket of wet clothes can be transferred directly from the washer to the dryer without having to transfer each item of clothing individually.

2. Description of the Related Art

Collecting, washing, and drying a load of dirty laundry can be a tedious and tiring series of tasks. A typical scenario might include collecting a load of dirty clothes into a laundry hamper or basket; removing the articles of clothing one-by-one from the hamper or basket; placing them into a washing machine; removing the wet, clumped clothes from the washing machine; placing them into the drying machine; removing the dried clothes from the dryer; and placing them back into the laundry hamper or basket.

Various clothes holding devices are available for retaining a group of related articles of clothing in a washing machine. Similarly, various clothes holding devices are available for retaining a group of related articles of clothing in a drying machine. However, no device is available that holds clothing and can be transferred directly from the drum of a clothes washing machine to a drum of a clothes dryer. Thus, a combination washer/dryer laundry basket solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The combination washer/dryer laundry basket is adapted to fit both the drum of a clothes washer and the drum of a clothes dryer, and can be used to hold clothes while they are being washed and dried, as well as providing a basket for holding the clothes after the clothes have been removed from the dryer. The combination washer/dryer laundry basket has a cylindrical, mesh body member, one or more channels extending axially along the body member, a pair of handles, and one or more locking tabs.

The body member has a closed bottom end and an open top end and is dimensioned and configured to fit snugly within the drums of a new model clothes washer and a new model clothes dryer, that will each be specifically designed to accommodate the present invention. Each of the channels extends from the bottom end of the body member toward the top end of the body member, and is dimensioned and configured to closely receive a flange from the drum of the clothes washer and the clothes dryer. Each handle extends inwardly from the rim of the body member opposite one or more locking tabs that are used to removably secure the basket in the washer and dryer drums. The combination washer/dryer laundry basket will be made from a durable, lightweight material.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating use of the combination system of the washer/dryer laundry basket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of the combination washer/dryer laundry basket according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an environmental perspective view of a second embodiment of the combination washer/dryer laundry basket according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is an environmental side view of the first embodiment of the combination washer/dryer laundry basket according to the present invention, the dryer being shown in section.

FIG. 3B is an environmental side view of the second embodiment of the combination washer/dryer laundry basket according to the present invention, the dryer being shown in section.

FIG. 4 is a fragmented, detailed perspective view showing a handle with locking tabs of the combination washer/dryer laundry basket according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a combination washer/dryer laundry basket, designated generally as 10 in the drawings.

The combination washer/dryer laundry basket 10 is designed for use on a washing and drying machine set having internal drums with substantially similar specifications, including substantially the same inside diameter and inwardly directed flanges, with the washing and drying machines preferably being of the horizontal loading variety.

FIG. 1 shows the combination washer/dryer laundry basket 10 in the system for which it is designed. Combination washer/dryer laundry basket 10 may be used as a freestanding laundry hamper, or may be placed inside an existing laundry hamper H. Once the basket 10 is full, it can be moved as a single unit to a washing machine W, where the basket 10 is placed in the internal drum of washing machine W and the clothes are washed. Once the washing cycle is complete, the basket 10 can be removed from washing machine W, with the clothes still inside, and moved and placed in the internal drum of drying machine D, where the clothes are dried. After the drying cycle is complete, basket 10 is removed from the drying machine D and the process may be repeated with a new load of clothes.

FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 4 show a first embodiment of combination washer/dryer laundry basket 10 a. Basket 10 a includes a cylindrical, mesh body member 12 a, one or more channels 14 a extending axially along body member 12 a, a pair of handles 16 extending inwardly from the rim of the body member 12 a, and one or more locking tabs 18 extendable outwardly from the rim of the body member 12 a. Body member 12 a has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and is dimensioned and configured to fit snugly within the drum U of clothes dryer D. Body member 12 a is made from a mesh material so that water may penetrate basket 10 a while it is inside a washing machine, and air may penetrate basket 10 a while it is inside a drying machine.

Each channel 14 a extends from the bottom end of body member 12 a to the top end of the body member 12 a and is dimensioned and configured to closely receive a flange F from drum U of clothes dryer D, serving as a keyway to prevent rotational movement of basket 10 a inside of drum U. Each handle 16 is attached to the rim of the body member 12 a and extends inwardly, providing an easy way of lifting basket 10 a into and out of dryer D, as well as a way of carrying basket 10 a from one place to another. Locking tabs 18 are each attached to body member 12 a at the rim and are extendable outwardly, allowing basket 10 a to be removably secured to drum U, thus preventing horizontal movement of basket 10 a during use.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a second embodiment of combination washer/dryer laundry basket 10 b. Basket 10 b includes a cylindrical, mesh body member 12 b, one or more channels 14 b extending axially along body member 12 b, and a pair of handles 16 extending inwardly from the rim of body member 12 b. Body member 12 b has a closed bottom end and an open top end, and is dimensioned and configured to fit snugly within the drum U of clothes dryer D. Body member 12 b is made from a mesh material so that water may penetrate basket 10 b while it is inside a washing machine and air may penetrate basket 10 b while it is inside a drying machine.

Each channel 14 b extends from the bottom end of body member 12 b toward the top end of the body member 12 b to between about one-quarter to one-half the height of the body member 12 b, and is dimensioned and configured to closely receive a short tab or key K extending from drum U of clothes dryer D, preventing rotational movement of basket 10 b inside of drum U. Each handle 16 is attached to body member 12 b at the rim of body member 12 b and extends inwardly, providing an easy way of lifting basket 10 b into and out of dryer D, as well as a way of carrying basket 10 b from one place to another. Basket 10 b also has locking tabs 18 extending outwardly from the rim of body member 12 a for securing the basket within the drum of the washer W and the dryer D.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A combination washer/dryer laundry basket, comprising: a cylindrical, mesh body member having a closed bottom end and an open top end defining a rim, the body member being dimensioned and configured to alternately fit snugly within a drum of a clothes washer and within a drum of a clothes dryer; at least one channel extending axially along the body member, the channel extending from the bottom end of the body member toward the top end of the body member, the channel defining a keyway adapted for alternately receiving a member projecting from the drum of the clothes washer and a member projecting from the drum of the clothes dryer; a pair of handles extending inwardly from the rim of the body member; and at least one locking tab extendable outwardly from the rim of the body member for alternately securing the body member in the drum of the clothes washer and in the drum of the clothes dryer. 